Multifunctional Nanomaterials: Recent Advancements in Cancer Therapeutics and Vaccines

Metabolomics-Driven Biomarker Discovery for Breast Cancer Prognosis and Diagnosis

Breast cancer is a cancer with global prevalence and a surge in the number of cases with each passing year. With the advancement in science and technology, significant progress has been achieved in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer to make ends meet. The scientific intradisciplinary subject of "metabolomics" examines every metabolite found in a cell, tissue, system, or organism from different sources of samples. In the case of breast cancer, little is known about the regulatory pathways that could be resolved through metabolic reprogramming. Evidence related to the significant changes taking place during the onset and prognosis of breast cancer can be obtained using metabolomics. Innovative metabolomics approaches identify metabolites that lead to the discovery of biomarkers for breast cancer therapy, diagnosis, and early detection. The use of diverse analytical methods and instruments for metabolomics includes Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, LC/MS, UPLC/MS, etc., which, along with their high-throughput analysis, give insights into the metabolites and the molecular pathways involved. For instance, metabolome research has led to the discovery of the glutamate-to-glutamate ratio and aerobic glycolysis as biomarkers in breast cancer. The present review comprehends the updates in metabolomic research and its processes that contribute to breast cancer prognosis and metastasis. The metabolome holds a future, and this review is an attempt to amalgamate the present relevant literature that might yield crucial insights for creating innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at addressing metastatic breast cancer.

Harnessing the power of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) based microfluidics for next-generation molecular diagnostics

CRISPR-based (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-based) technologies have revolutionized molecular biology and diagnostics, offering unprecedented precision and versatility. However, challenges remain, such as high costs, demanding technical expertise, and limited quantification capabilities. To overcome these limitations, innovative microfluidic platforms are emerging as powerful tools for enhancing CRISPR diagnostics. This review explores the exciting intersection of CRISPR and microfluidics, highlighting their potential to revolutionize healthcare diagnostics. By integrating CRISPR's specificity with microfluidics' miniaturization and automation, researchers are developing more sensitive and portable diagnostic tools for a range of diseases. These microfluidic devices streamline sample processing, improve diagnostic performance, and enable point-of-care applications, allowing for rapid and accurate detection of pathogens, genetic disorders, and other health conditions. The review discusses various CRISPR/Cas systems, including Cas9, Cas12, and Cas13, and their integration with microfluidic platforms. It also examines the advantages and limitations of these systems, highlighting their potential for detecting DNA and RNA biomarkers. The review also explores the key challenges in developing and implementing CRISPR-driven microfluidic diagnostics, such as ensuring robustness, minimizing cross-contamination, and achieving robust quantification. Finally, it highlights potential future directions for this rapidly evolving field, emphasizing the transformative potential of these technologies for personalized medicine and global health.